ABB robots come to life in dance performance at Kaapelitehdas

2012-05-29 - ABB's industrial robots embrace dance at the Pannuhalli, Kaapelitehdas in Helsinki on May 22 - 31. With ABB's new SafeMove technology, a robot dancing close to a human is safe for the first time.

ABB's industrial robots enjoyed the pleasure of dance in the modern dance performance "Human Interface" at the Zodiak Center for New Dance in Helsinki.

The performance uses ABB's SafeMove technology which, for the first time, makes it possible for a person to remain safe within the working zone of an industrial robot. The roles in the performance are assigned to two robots of different types and sizes, IRB 4600 and IRB 2600 ID, whose individual movements have been programmed using ABB RobotStudio.

The movements, programmed for the robots by dance/choreographer Thomas Freundlich, is mechanically accurate but also human-like - the industrial robots appear as living, creatures and act as equal dance partners to people.

"SafeMove is a great step to working with robots. Through it, it is possible for a robot and a person to operate near each other without compromising safety," says Timo Toissalo, director of robot business at ABB.

The dance performance "Human Interface: mechanical dance, intelligent body" continues the duet by Thomas Freundlich and the ABB IRB 1600 industrial robot, which was first performed in 2008. The premiere at Pannuhalli was on May 22, and the performances will continue until May 31.

ABB (www.abb.com) is a leading electric power and automation technology corporation, whose products, systems, and services improve the competitiveness of its industrial and energy company customers in an environmentally friendly manner. ABB employs more than 145,000 people in about 100 countries.